Piano-action.



y lP AIENTED FEB. 13.19061 W. G. VOGEL n H. K. SNELL.

PIANO ACTION. APPLICATION 'FILED JULY11,1904.

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inval/stond,

@www MESZ/V740, LL/@ 5&1

PATENTED PEB. 13, 1906. W. C. VOGEL &,H. K. SNBLL.

PIANO ACTION. APPLICATION FILED JULYll, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED strnrnsngrnnr OFFICE.

,WILLIAM C. VOGEL AND HARRY K. SNELL, OF NEWCASTLE, INDIANA.

PIANO-ACTION Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed July 11,1904. Serial No. 216,036.

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM C. VOGEL and HARRY K. SNELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Newcastle, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Piano- Action, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of action known as upright actions; and the main object of this invention is an uprightpiano action designed to take up lost motion, to permit a rapid repeating action of the same key, and at the same time to decrease the weight and amount of material used without sacrifice of strength and durability.

A further object of our invention is to provide an action in which the key will be maintained in its normal position irrespective of the use of the soft pedal and to keep the jack and hammer-butt in constant contact, so that the key will at all times have the same sweep or limit of travel, thus giving certainty and uniformity of key action.

With these objects in view our invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth, particularly pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichh Figure l is a vertical section through our piano-action, showing the parts in fLill lines in their normal position and showing in dotted lines the positions assumed when both key and soft pedal are depressed. Fig. 2 is a similar section taken adjacent the section shown in Fig. 1 and showing in full lines the positions assumed by the various movable parts when the key is at rest and the soft pedal is depressed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the action -bracket with certain parts attached thereto. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lost-motion lever and certain coacting parts shown detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a connecting-elbow. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bracket or tongue lever -rail hanger. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stationary guide. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing certain lugs carried by an action-bracket.

In the drawings, A is the center or main action-rail, and to this rail are secured the upwardly-extending flanges A and the depending iianges A2, carried by the front and rear sides of the main action-rail A, respectively.

" To the flange A is pivotally connected the hammer-butt B and to the flange A2 the whip B and to the upper face of the hammer-butt is secured the hammer-shaft F, carrying the usual hammer F. To the whip B is pivotally connected the upper end of the pilot or riser C. The lower end of the bar C, being reduced in thickness, extends into a groove of a lever D, to which the lower` end of the bar C is pivoted. The lever D cooperates with a key D, the whip B being actuated through the medium of the key D lever D, and pilot-bar C. Pivotally mounted upon the whip B is a jack E, which is constantly in engagement with the butt B, being held in such engagement by a spring B2. The hammer-butt is also provided with the usual stop or buffer B3, and a restoring-spring B4 is carried by the butt-spring rail H. The main action-rail A also carries a rearwardly-extending bracket B5, to which is pivoted a damperlever B, carrying a damper B7 and provided with a restoring-spring B8. A spoon J is carried by the whip B and actuates the damperlever B6. A cushioned hammer-check B9 of the usual type is also carried by the whip B, the check B2 coperating with the buffer B3.

The whip B is connected to the hammerbutt B by the bridle-strap J and wire J2. A regulating-rail K is arranged parallel to and in advance of the main action-rail A and carries an adjustable regulating-button K, which can be adjusted so that when the jack E is thrown into the position shown in dotted lines"in Fig. 1 the toe of the jack will press upon the head of the button K relieving the haInmer-butt of pressure. y.

The tongue-lever rail D2 is beveled along its lower front edge and carries a depending flange D3, to which the rear end of the lever D is pivoted.

A movable hammer-rest rail M is connected to a vertically-arranged action-bracket M by hammer-rest-rail hooks M2, which have their upper ends screwed or otherwise fastened to the haInmer-I'est rail M and are pivoted to the action-bracket M so that the hammer-rest rail M may be moved toward or away from the strings G by Ineans of a softpedal rod M3. The lever-rail D2 moves vertically between a stationary guide D4 and the vertical actionbracket M. A stationary squared rail M4 is secured to lugs M7, extending in opposite directions and laterally from the rear edge of the action-bracket M and IOO IIO

the action-bracket M has also similarly op- I is understood that the covering S2 is usedv positely and laterally extending lugs M, carried by its rear edge, adjacent its lower end, and the guide-bracket DA1 (shown'in detail in Fig. 7) is offset at its upper end portion and connected to the rail M4, laterally-projeeting lugs D7 being formed on its lower end portion, which rest against and are secured to the lugs M of the bracket M. rPhe connection between the hammer-rail M and the lever-rail D2 is as follows: The upper end of a rod O is pivoted between lugs M5, carried by the hammer-rail M, and the lower end portion of the rod O passes through a block O, perforated at right angles to the bore through which the rod O passes, and binding-screw O2 works in the perforation, which is threaded and loc is the rod O in its adjusted position. From the block O depends a lug O3, and the block is pivotally connected to a second block Q, having upwardly-extending ears Q2, which fit over the lug O2. The block Q is also cut out, as shown at Q3, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. A lost-motion lever P (shown in detail in Fig. 4) is pivoted at its rear end to a flange A3 outside of the whip B, and its forward end is adapted to fit in the opening of the block Q, the block being slidable upon the lever. The outer end portion of the lever is slightly upwardly angled, and intermediate its ends the lever P is perforated, as shown at P. The block Q may be locked in its adjusted position upon the lever P by means of the set-screw Q.

Ve further provide a curved elbow l, bifurcated at each end, as shown at l, and at its upper end the elbow l is pivotally connected to the lever P, the pivot-pin passing through one of the perforations P, and at its lower end the lower bifurcated portion I of the leverl embraces and is pivotally connected to the web R2 of the lever-rail hanger R. This hanger-rail carries an angled plate R, the web R2 connecting the hanger R and the plate R, and the hanger is secured to the lever-rail D2 and moves with it. Adjacent its front end the under face of the lever D carries a. cushion of felting or other suitable material, and the key D carries a capstanscrew DG, which maintains constant contact with the cushion D5, and thus serves to maintain the jack E in constant engagement with the hammer-butt B irrespective of the position of the movable hammer-rest rail M, it being understood that the lever D rises as the hammer-rail M is moved out of normal position. There the rail D2 passes between the vertical action-bracket M and the guidebracket D'1 it is fitted with a block S to form a square corner, and buckskin S is placed under the beveled portion of the lever-rail D2 also for the purpose of forming a square corner and also to form a cushion. To the buckskin S and block S is glued a buckskin covering S2, which enfolds the lever-rail D2; but it only where the said rail D2 slides between the action-bracket M and the guide D4.

It is obvious that by using the block S and the piece of buckskin S the buckskin covering S2 is more readily fitted into position than would be the case if it followed the inequalities of the surface of the rail D2. The use of the block S also causes the lower portion of the rear side of the covering to bear on the guide-bracket D4, which would not be the case if the block S were omitted.

The operation of the various parts may be briefly described as follows: Vhen the soft pedal (not shown) is depressed, the softpedal rod M3 rises and the hammer-rest rail M is moved so as to limit the movement of the hammer F. As has been described, the lever-rail D2 is indirectly connected to the hammer-rest rail M, and the movement of the hammerhead F upward and toward the strings G causes an upwardly-sliding movement of the lever-rail D2, and the lever D is lifted at its rear end and occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. The front end portion of the lever D rocks on and remains in engagement with the capstan-screw D0. The jack E is held always in working contact with the surface of the hammer-butt B, and the key D remains in its normal position whatever may be the movement of the hainmer-rest rail M. It is understood, of course, that many minor variations of construction and arrangement of parts may be made to accommodate the action herein described to pianos of various makes and sizes without varying the operation and result gained as above outlined, and it is also obvious that the various parts may be made of any suitable material, cushioned and packed where necessary, and made of any desired size.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a piano-action, a vertical main action-bracket having upper and lower lugs extending laterally from its rear edge, a block carried by said upper lugs, a guide-bracket connected at its upper end to the block and at its lower end to the lower lugs, and a leverrail adapted to move vertically between the bracket and the guide, as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. A piano-action comprising a main action-bracket, a block carried by the rear edge of the bracket, lugs extending from the bracket below the block, a guide-bracket having an upper offset portion secured to the block, lugs formed on the lower end of the guide-bracket adapted to aline with and be secured to the lugs of the action-bracket, and a lever-rail adapted to move vertically between the action and the guide brackets.

3. The combination with a lever-rail movable vertically, of a movable hammer-res t rail, a soft-pedal rod adapted to lift the hammer- IOO IIO

rest rail upwardly and rearwardly, a depending rod pivotally connected to the hammerrest rail, a block adj ustably secured upon said rod, a main action-rail, a lost-motion lever pivotally hung from said main rail at its rear end, a block pivotally supported from the adjust- ,able block and cut out to receive the forward end of the lost-motion lever, an elbow ad- 'justably pivoted to the lost-motion lever intermediate its ends, a hanger secured to the lever-rail and pivotally connected to the lower end of the elbow, a lever pivotally supported at its rear end from the lever-rail, and

a key in constant engagement with the forward end portion of the lever.

4. A piano-action comprising a main action-rail, a hammer, a hammer-rest rail, a vertical main action-bracket, a verticallymovable lever-rail, a lost-motion lever pivotally connected to the main action-rail, a block secured to the hammer-rest rail, a depending rod pivoted at its upper end to the said block, a block adj ustably secured on said rod, a block pivotally connected to the adjustable block and cut out to receive the forward end of the lost-motion lever, the said lever being provided with a lurality of perforations, an elbow adjustab y pivoted at its upper end to the lost-motion lever, anda hanger pivotally connected to the elbow and also connected to the lever-rail.

5. A piano-action comprising a vertical main action-bracket, a guide-bracket, a lever rail movable vertically between the main action-bracket and the guide-bracket and cut away along its lower edges, a block fitted to the said lever-rail to form a rectangular edge, a buckskin covering inclosing the said lever rail between the main actionbracket and the guide-bracket, and a strip of 4o buckskin interposed between the said covering and the remaining cut-out edge of the 

